FSA – DTN 106: The use of a drug testing device for the identification of controlled drugs (example section 68)
Published 24 July 2026
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68.1. Definition
68.1.1. Examination and identification of controlled drugs using rapid test devices, for the purposes outlined in 68.1.2 and not including supply cases which shall be undertaken under FSA-DTN 103.
68.1.2. An eligible rapid drug testing kit or device (hereinafter referred to as ‘approved DTD’) under this FSA shall have met the requirements stated in ‘Technical Specification for DTN 106: The Use of a Drug Testing Device for the Identification of Controlled Drugs’.
68.1.3. This FSA applies to the use of approved DTDs to support testing where the result will be used as the evidence of drug identification for court proceedings or for intelligence purposes relating to the investigation of crime, including:
a. Threshold charges (to remand in custody)
b. Possession charges
c. Presumptive identification to assist investigative decisions such as in supply cases or scene examination
d. Screening and intelligence including but not limited to:
i. test purchase operations (including county lines strategy)
ii. to inform forensic strategy such as selecting items to submit for analysis under DTN 103.
68.1.4. Where possible, this FSA applies to any other operational use of these devices for drug testing purposes.
68.1.5. The FSA-Specific Requirements detail the criteria for testing suspected drugs under this FSA. All testing of drugs relating to the detection and investigation of crime is now captured under this Code and is expected to be undertaken under DTN 103. As such a declaration of compliance or non-compliance to the Code is required in all reports and statements that are intended for use in or could be used in court (as per declaration requirements of the Code version 2 sections 31.2 and 31.3).
68.2. Required compliance
68.2.1. Part A of the Code ‘General Requirements’ applies to the undertaking of all of this FSA. This FSA signposts other relevant parts of the Code which apply to the undertaking of this FSA. For definitions and abbreviations included in this FSA and the associated documents (in 68.2.2 below) please refer to the Code.
68.2.2. Compliance to this FSA (68) requires:
a. The use of DTDs adhering to the specification ‘Technical Specification for DTN 106: The Use of a Drug Testing Device for the Identification of Controlled Drugs’ (69) only.
b. Compliance to each requirement of ‘FSA Specific Requirements for DTN 106: The Use of a Drug Testing Device for the Identification of Controlled Drugs’ (70).
c. Demonstration of competence as per the requirements outlined in ‘Training and Competence Requirements for DTN 106: The Use of a Drug Testing Device for the Identification of Controlled Drugs’ (71).
68.3. Sub-activities
68.3.1. The sub-activities included within this FSA are as follows. Sub-activity ‘c’ may not be relevant if the DTD is a ‘point and shoot’ device. It is noted that ‘g’ may not be undertaken in all instances and may be undertaken prior to the removal of a portion for testing.
a. Identifying the suitability of a suspected controlled drug for testing under this FSA
b. Preparing for testing
c. Selecting a portion of the suspected controlled drug for testing (where applicable)
d. Testing of the suspected controlled drug using the approved DTD
e. Interpretation of the result from the test
f. Recording and reporting the result
g. Estimated the weight of the sample/ seizure (if applicable)
68.4. Note
68.4.1. This FSA relates only to the testing of suspected drugs as defined by the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (as amended).
68.4.2. All types of drug testing kits and devices are within scope of this FSA, regardless of the chemistry or technology involved (including and not limited to: single use ‘wet chemistry’ kits such as colour change pouches, and immunoassay, to point and shoot devices and portable desk top instruments).
68.4.3. All analyses relating to supply cases shall be undertaken under DTN 103.
68.4.4. There can be no mixing of sub-activities across DTN 103 and DTN 106. The sub-activities and compliance requirements for DTN 106 only apply where DTDs have been used e.g. an estimated weight attained under DTN 106 cannot be reported with a confirmed drug result attained under DTN 103.
68.4.5. Where an approved DTD is adopted into laboratory processes under DTN 103 ‘Examination and analysis to identify and quantify controlled drugs and/or associated materials’, its use shall be governed by that FSA, including accreditation requirements.
68.4.6. This FSA is designed for the use of approved DTDs to create safeguards around the use of single-technique identification methods. This differs from analysis under DTN 103 where typically two or more independent analytical techniques are used to confirm the presence of a drug.
68.4.7. It is expected that all drug identification will be undertaken by an accredited laboratory under FSA-DTN 103 ‘Examination and analysis to identify and quantify controlled drugs and/or associated materials’, however in the circumstances described in this FSA DTDs may be used for the purposes detailed in this FSA.
68.1. Exclusions from this FSA and the Code
68.1.1. The visual identification of ‘cannabis’ under HOC/ EDIT processes is exempt from this FSA. Identification of THC and related compounds (as controlled under the MDA), using a DTD, is included within this FSA.